Fierce fighting between government forces and Tamil Tiger separatists across Sri Lanka's war-ravaged north killed dozens of combatants during the weekend, according to the military and rebels. The military said soldiers killed at least 73 Tamil Tiger rebels in fighting Saturday along the northern front lines, while the rebels said 30 soldiers were killed in the clashes. Reports of fighting have increased in recent months following the government's promises to capture the rebels' de facto state in the north and crush them by the end of the year. But diplomats and other observers say the army was facing more resistance than it had expected. In the main offensive Saturday, infantry troops backed by artillery and mortar fire pushed into Tamil Tiger-held territory in Mannar district, said military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara. At least 66 guerrillas and nine soldiers were killed in the fierce, daylong battle, Nanayakkara said Sunday. Fifty-one guerrillas and 34 soldiers were wounded, he said. In a statement late Saturday, rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan said, however, that 30 soldiers died and 75 were wounded, while only three rebels were killed in the battle. Scattered battles elsewhere in the north on Saturday killed seven more rebels and one soldier, Nanayakkara said. There was no comment from rebels on that fighting. It was not possible to independently verify either side's claim because journalists are barred from the conflict zone. Both sides commonly exaggerate their enemies' casualties while underplaying their own. The Tamil Tigers have been fighting since 1983 for an independent homeland for minority ethnic Tamils, who were marginalized for decades by governments dominated by the Sinhalese majority. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the fighting. __
